Method and apparatus for output setting in a portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for providing an output setting in a portable terminal includes an external output setting unit and a controller. If a connection with an external device is determined, the external output setting unit determines an output format supported by the external device. The controller automatically changes system setting suitably to the determined output format of the external device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) from a Koreanpatent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on“Apr. 22, 2009” and assigned Serial No. “10-2009-0034898”, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable terminal in connection withan external device. More particularly, the present invention relates toan apparatus and method for converting data format to be supported by anexternal device.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the rapid development of portable terminals, the portable terminalshave become widely used as necessities to modern people and readilyprovide a wireless voice call and information exchange.

In the beginning, the portable terminals were simply enabled a wirelesscall. However, as their technologies are developed, a service provideror a terminal manufacturer is competitively developing a product (or aservice) for the differentiation from other enterprises.

For example, the portable terminals are evolving into multimedia devicecovering services related to phone books, games, short messages,electronic mail (e-mail) messages, morning wakeup calls, MPEG-1 AudioLayer 3 (MP3) players, schedule management functions, digital cameras,and wireless Internet services to provide a variety of services.Recently, with the development of an image data processing technologyand an increase in the data storage capacity, even the portableterminals can now readily display multimedia images, etc.

In order to provide the above functions of the portable terminals, theportable terminals may need to be connected to an external device. Forexample, when the portable terminals receive digital broadcasting, auser has to view the digital broadcasting on restricted screens of theportable terminals. To solve the inconvenience, the portable terminalscan connect to an external display device such as a Television (TV).

The above method requires a separate cable to connect to the portableterminal supporting external output and to a TV.

However, the TV requires system setting to support a National TelevisionSystem committee (NTSC) scheme and a Phase Alternation Line (PAL) schemeaccording to broadcasting standards. Hence, a user has to directlyperform the system setting in a manual fashion.

When a system setting format supported by each country is different, a aTV will not display a picture correctly. Thus, there is a problem that auser has to perform the TV system setting at great inconvenience.

Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for, when aportable terminal connects with an external device, performing thesystem setting supported by the external device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand method for converting data to a data format supported by an externaldevice in a portable terminal that is connected to the external device.

Another exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for enabling data transmission suitable to a dataformat of an external device supported in an area where a portableterminal is positioned.

Still another exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for receiving position information, determining anarea where an external device is positioned, and determining a dataformat supported by the external device in a portable terminal.

In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, anapparatus for providing an external output setting of a portableterminal includes an external output setting unit and a controller. If aconnection with an external device is determined, the external outputsetting unit determines an output format supported by the externaldevice. The controller automatically changes system setting suitably tothe determined output format of the external device.

In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the present invention, amethod for providing an external output setting of a portable terminalincludes determining an output format supported by the external deviceif determining a connection with an external device, and automaticallychanging system setting suitably to the determined output format of theexternal device.

Other exemplary aspects, advantages and salient features of theinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above features and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a portableterminal connecting with an external device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operational process ofoutputting data to an external device in a portable terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operational process ofconverting data suitably to TV system setting supported by country in aportable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings,is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of certainexemplary embodiments of the invention provided herein for illustrativepurposes. The description includes various specific details to assist aperson of ordinary skill the art with understanding the claimedinvention, but these details are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the illustrative examples describedherein can be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims. Also, descriptions of well-knownfunctions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and concisenesswhen their inclusion may obscure appreciation of the subject matter ofthe claimed invention by a person or ordinary skill in the art.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, a reference to “a component surface” includesreference to one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” it is typically meant that the recitedcharacteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, butthat deviations or variations, including but in no way limited to, forexample, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitationsand other factors known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, mayoccur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic wasintended to provide.

The following description is made for an apparatus and method forconverting data to a data format supported by an external device in aportable terminal connecting with the external device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, the portable terminal means the inclusionof all types of mobile communication terminals such as cellular phones,Personal Communications Service (PCS) phones, and Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA) phones. The external device represents a device such asan audio system, a TV system, and a Personal Computer (PC) capable ofconnecting with the portable terminal and receiving data of the portableterminal.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a portableterminal in connection with an external device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention,

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal may include a controller 100,a memory unit 102, an input unit 104, a display unit 106, a positioninformation receiving module 108, a communication unit 110, an externaloutput module 112, and an external output setting unit 114.

The controller 100 of the portable terminal controls a general operationof the portable terminal. For example, the controller 100 performs aprocess and control for voice telephony and data communication. Inaddition to a general function, when determining a connection with anexternal device, the controller 100 processes to convert output data toa data format supported by the external device according to the presentinvention.

Accordingly, the controller 100 processes to convert data of theportable terminal to the format supported by the external device andtransmit the converted data to the external device.

In order to perform the above operation, the controller 100 determinesthe format supported by the external device when connecting with theexternal device. For instance, the controller 100 may determine a formatsupported by a Television (TV) of a corresponding area by receivingposition information (e.g., Base Station (BS) information, a satellitesignal, time information, and the like.), acquiring information on thecorresponding area, then determining an output format of a TV system byarea.

The memory unit 102 of the portable terminal preferably includes, forexample, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flashROM, and the like. The ROM stores a microcode of a program forprocessing and controlling the controller 100, the external outputsetting unit 114, and a variety of reference data.

The RAM as a working memory of the controller 100, stores temporary datagenerated during execution of a variety of programs. The flash ROMstores a diversity of updateable depository data such as a phone book,an outgoing message, an incoming message, information on a point of auser's touch input, and the like.

The input unit 104 includes numeral key buttons ‘0’ to ‘9’, a menubutton, a cancel button, an OK button, a talk button, an end button, anInternet button, navigation key (or direction key) buttons, a pluralityof function keys such as a character input key, and the like. The inputunit 104 provides key input data corresponding to a key pressed by auser to the controller 100.

The display unit 106 displays state information generated during anoperation of the portable terminal 100, limited number of characters, alarge amount of moving pictures and still pictures, and the like. Thedisplay unit 106 may be a color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), ActiveMode Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED), and the like. The displayunit 106 may be used as an input device when equipped with a touch inputdevice.

The position information receiving module 108 refers to a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) for receiving position information anddetermining information regarding an area where the portable terminal ispositioned.

The communication unit 110 performs a function of transmitting/receivingand processing a radio signal of data that is input/output through anantenna (not shown). For example, in a transmission mode, thecommunication unit 110 processes original data through channel codingand spreading, converts the original data into a Radio Frequency (RF)signal, and transmits the RF signal. In a reception mode, thecommunication unit 110 converts a received RF signal into a basebandsignal, processes the baseband signal through de-spreading and channeldecoding, and restores the signal to original data.

The external output module 112, which is a module connecting with theexternal device, can be an output terminal (TV OUT), for example, incase where the portable terminal connects with a TV system.

Under the control of the controller 100, the external output settingunit 114 determines a data format supported by an external deviceconnected to the portable terminal. Thereafter, the portable terminalprocesses to convert data of the portable terminal to the data formatsupported by the external device.

Note that the function of the external output setting unit 114 can beimplemented by the controller 100 of the portable terminal. Moreover,the process of modules and units shown in FIG. 1 can be achieved via thecontroller 100.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an exemplary process ofoutputting data to an external device in a portable terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 201, the portable terminal determines if anexternal device is connected to an external output module thereof. Here,the external output module refers to an output terminal (e.g., a TV OUT)for connecting the portable terminal with an external device such as aTV, a portable multimedia player, an audio device. Note that TV is usedas an external device as illustrative purposes, but it should be notedthat teachings of the present invention may be applied to othermultimedia devices.

If determining that the external output module is not connected to theexternal device, that is, the TV OUT is not connected to the TV, theportable terminal proceeds to step 209 and performs a correspondingfunction (e.g., an idle mode).

If determining that the external output module is connected to theexternal device in step 201, the portable terminal proceeds to step 203and determines a data format supported by the external device.

After that, the portable terminal proceeds to step 205 and converts datato the data format supported by the external device for transmission tothe external device. That is, step 205 is a process of converting amusic file supported by the portable terminal to a specific filesupported by an audio device, or converting image data supported by theportable terminal to a specific file supported by a portable multimediaplayer or a file corresponding to a specific resolution. Also, when auser intends to connect previously stored digital broadcasting to a TVfor replay, the portable terminal can convert the prestored digitalbroadcasting to data of a system scheme (i.e., a National TelevisionSystem committee (NTSC) or Phase Alternation Line (PAL) scheme)supported by the TV.

After the conversion, the portable terminal proceeds to step 207 andtransmits the converted data to the external device. Thereafter, theportable terminal terminates the process according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an exemplary process ofconverting data suitably to TV system setting supported by a particularcountry according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 301, the portable terminal determines if anexternal output module is connected to an external device. FIG. 3illustrates an example in which the portable terminal is connected to aTV system, but it should be noted that the portable terminal may becoupled to other multimedia devices.

If determining that the external output module is not connected to theexternal device in step 301, the portable terminal can proceed to step313 and perform a corresponding function (e.g., an idle mode).

If the external device is detected in step 301, the portable terminalcan proceed to step 303 and receive position information. Here, reasonsfor receiving the position information is to determine whether a formatsupported by the TV system and a format of data from the portableterminal matches based on location of the portable terminal. Theportable terminal can use position information such as a satellitesignal, BS information, time information by country, etc.

In step 305, the portable terminal determines its position informationusing the received position information. Then, in step 307, the portableterminal determines a data format of the external device (e.g., the TVsystem) using the determined area information of step 305. That is, theportable terminal stores output formats of TV systems by the area. Thus,the terminal can, based on the determined area information, determine anoutput format supported in a particular area where the portable terminalis currently positioned. In step 307, the portable terminal determineswhich one of NTSC and PAL schemes is, for example, supported by the TVsystem currently in connection with the external output module.

In step 309, the terminal converts data to be output to the externaldevice to a corresponding data format. Then, the portable terminalproceeds to step 311 and transmits the converted data to the externaldevice.

The above description with reference to FIG. 3 is made for an example ofconnecting a portable terminal of the present invention with a TVsystem. However, the present invention is applicable when the portableterminal is coupled to an audio system, a portable multimedia player,and a portable game player.

The above-described methods according to the present invention can berealized in hardware or as software or computer code that can be storedin a recording medium such as a CD ROM, a RAM, a floppy disk, a harddisk, or a magneto-optical disk or downloaded over a network, so thatthe methods described herein can be executed by such software using ageneral purpose computer, or a special processor or in programmable ordedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood inthe art, the computer, the processor or the programmable hardwareinclude memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store orreceive software or computer code that when accessed and executed by thecomputer, processor or hardware implement the processing methodsdescribed herein. In addition, it would be recognized that when ageneral purpose computer accesses code for implementing the processingshown herein, the execution of the code transforms the general purposecomputer into a special purpose computer for executing the processingshown herein.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for providing an external output setting of a portableterminal in communication with an external device, comprising: anexternal output setting unit for determining an output format supportedby the external device; and a controller for automatically changing asystem setting according to the determined output format of the externaldevice.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external output settingunit receives position information and determines the output formatsupported by the external device based on the position information. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external output setting unitreceives position information and determines whether the output formatsupported by the external device is a National Television SystemCommittee (NTSC) scheme or a Phase Alternation Line (PAL) scheme basedon the position information.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontroller automatically changes the system setting by changing theexternal output setting of the portable terminal into the output formatsupported by the external device.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe controller converts data of the portable terminal to data of theoutput format supported by the external device.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the position information comprises at least any one ofa satellite signal, time information, and Base Station (BS) information.7. A method for providing an external output setting of a portableterminal, the method comprising: in response to a connection with anexternal device, determining an output format supported by the externaldevice; and automatically changing a system setting according to thedetermined output format of the external device.
 8. The method of claim7, wherein determining the output format further comprises receivingposition information.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining theoutput format further comprises: receiving position information;determining area information based on the position information; anddetermining whether the output format supported by the external deviceis a National Television System Committee (NTSC) scheme or a PhaseAlternation Line (PAL) scheme using the area information.
 10. The methodof claim 7, wherein automatically changing the system setting furthercomprises: changing the external output setting of the portable terminalinto the output format supported by the external device.
 11. The methodof claim 7, wherein automatically changing the system setting furthercomprises: converting data of the portable terminal to data of theoutput format supported by the external device.
 12. The method of claim8, wherein the position information comprises at least any one of asatellite signal, time information, and Base Station (BS) information.